Decreased Libido, Increased Propecia Lawsuits

New York, NYWhile men suffering hair loss have experienced decreased libido and more severe Propecia side effects since taking Propecia, attorneys are experiencing increased Propecia lawsuits, both in the US and in Canada.

There are more brave men going public with Propecia sexual dysfunction. Sam reports from Indiana that since 2003 he has suffered a marked erectile dysfunction and decreased libido since taking Propecia. “After stopping Propecia over two years ago, I am still experiencing these problems and have a documented decreased testerone level before and after taking Propecia.”

From Tennessee, Thomas (not his real name pending a Propecia lawsuit), age 60, says he noticed a marked decrease in libido and sexual performance shortly after taking Propecia in 2009. “I continued taking the drug to curb hair loss because I am single and I was assured by my doctor that any side effects would subside if I stopped taking the drug,” Thomas explains. But earlier this year I had my annual physical and my prostate exam was worrisome. My doctor also noted a marked increase in my PSA level, which is a known marker for prostate cancer.”

Thomas was referred to a urologist, who confirmed that he had cancer: he had a Gleason score of 7 and his prostate was unusually small, about the size of an acorn instead of the normal walnut size. Even after being diagnosed with cancer, Thomas was never told to discontinue Propecia. Instead, he was told to continue the drug for hair loss treatment!

He recently had a prostatectomy. “At this point I suspected that Propecia was linked to my cancer,” Thomas says. “I have since stopped taking it, but my sexual problems not only persist but have become worse after the surgery and stopping the drug.

Propecia Lawsuits

By early December 2012, Merck & Co., the Propecia finasteride manufacturer, reported it had been named in more than 200 Propecia sexual dysfunction lawsuits filed by 415 plaintiffs. As of September 30, 2012, the lawsuits were pending in New York federal court and New Jersey Superior Court, according to Merck’s 3rd quarter earnings report.
(Those numbers spell a 32.5 percent rise in the number of lawsuits and a 27.5 percent rise in plaintiffs over the previous quarter, ended June 31, 2012.)

Federal claims have now been consolidated in the Eastern District of New York in a multidistrict litigation (Propecia (Finasteride) Product Liability Litigation ??" MDL No. 2331) and another MDL in New Jersey Superior Court, Middlesex County.

The latest Propecia impotence claim was filed by a 33-year-old Iowa Man. The lawsuit alleges that Merck should have known that Propecia (finasteride) can cause a wide range of side effects such as diminished desire for sex, infertility, decreased volume of ejaculation, and erectile dysfunction. The plaintiff claims he is suffering from cognitive impairment and sexual dysfunction after using Propecia for some time.

One week earlier a 43-year-old Arkansas man filed a complaint, alleging the same Propecia side effects: cognitive impairment and sexual side effects during and after taking the drug. The lawsuit argues that Merck knew or should have known that Propecia (finasteride) can cause a wide range of Propecia side effects and Propecia long term side effects, including diminished Propecia sex drive, infertility, decreased volume of ejaculation, and erectile dysfunction.

For these men and many more Propecia consumers, so much for Merck’s tag line: “Be Well”. And interestingly, Merck now offers a “new option for fertility treatment”. As Propecia sales decrease, will its fertility drug increase?